Wednesday, August 31, 2011

COMA has mounted a small exhibition on the theme ‘ … introduced ‘ relating to the impact on our environment of imported weeds. The painting size is restricted to 10 x 12 inches because of the limited space.

This exhibition will be part of “Weed Week” - observed throughout the Shire. Three local film makers are putting together short films themed on weeds and there are a few workshops planned on weeds – painting of and weaving with weeds maybe … and all will be held at - and promoted through - the Maleny Library.

The opening is next Friday night, but the exhibition can be seen by clicking HERE

My small contribution is...

A Carpet Of Purple (not a great photo, sorry)

... and I believe that it's already SOLD. I'm delighted.

Patterson'sCurse is toxic to most grazing animals and is Australia's worst broadleaf temperate pasture weed. The weed is native to Mediterranean Europe and northern Africa and was introduced to Australia in the 1850s as an ornamental garden plant.

It reduces pasture productivity and is toxic to livestock and It degrades the natural environment by crowding out and suppressing native vegetation.

Despite this, from an artist’s view, the brilliant purple of paddocks covered with the weed are an absolute delight to behold. My childhood memories of life in the Riverina are coloured with this gorgeous purple.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

It's now well and truly the second half of the year for the A Letter A Week challenge.

I'm VERY late. I feel like my whole life is running two months late these days. Despite this I've managed to, eventually, get my 'letters' done for July and August.

Being prone to a little whimsy I've taken Fiona's challenge QUITE literally this time and have written a missive for each week. After all that's what the alphabet is for isn't it, to communicate?

I began with some 330gm watercolour paper and some splattered black. My 'letters' I printed on vellum and then scorched the sides. This made them quite wonky, so I had to press them for a while under some books. I wanted a feeling that there might have been some attempt to destroy them, as one does with notes one receives.

The watercolour paper has been torn and folded into 'signatures' with a view to making a book eventually, if I can remember how (thanks to Noela for the lesson), and the 'letters' secured with sealing wax imprinted with the letter of the alphabet.

My 'letters' run the entire gamut of communications... greetings, advice, warnings, romance, etc., and many are quite ambiguous. I hope you will all find something that sparks your imagination in some way, so that you can picture a scenario between two people.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Recently I was involved in a 'postcard swap' run by KAT SLOMA , a photographer from Oregon USA. I dutifully made five postcards, with photos of recent work on the front, and was rewarded with five return cards from different people PLUS one from Kat herself. Each postcard had a different message on the back, some with interesting quotes. A great way to see more 'stuff' and connect with creative people on the other side of the world.

Here are the five I received, almost all from photographers of course.﻿﻿﻿

Brigitte Hoist"I'm sending you my warmest wishes with this photo I took in April. Hope you'll like it.

Loved the cards, and the quotes. I was thrilled to connect with these talented people and see more work on their web pages. You can too by clicking on the links... (coloured names for those new to the concept)..... or the following box.

Monday, August 22, 2011

What a weekend!!!! I've had an extraordinarily creative two days with PETER GRIFFENa contemporaryAustralian artist.

His object was to make us get in touch with our 'inner child'. Sounds easy right? NOT!!! We are all bound by our past experience.

Peter began his first day by showing us how to take 'a line for a walk', in the immortal words of artist Paul Klee.

From this seemingly simple beginning we began our journey. Someone in the group called it the journey of the DEAD. Not as macabre as it seems.... Decorate, Echo, Analyse, Destroy ... then do it all again.

There will be some images in this blog that, for the life of me, I can't identify as coming from a particular person in the group, so hope I'm forgiven for that. There were works all over the floor, tables, on easels... everywhere.

We added colour to our 'lines' and it took off from there.

This is definitely one of mine

I was lucky to have a few friends in the group. Janet was one of the first friends I made when I first moved to Caloundra, with her daughter Felicity... and Susanne, one of a group I meet with for lunch each month.

Susanne's work is beautifully subtle

Felicity is a 'natural'

Janet is a colourist, through and through

... and I just love all this 'arty' stuff (my table)

Peter was very generous with his 'secrets' and during breaks we were treated to an analysis of some of his work.

The second day we were to incorporate what we'd learned previously into a 'still life'. BANG! Back we were, confronted by tradition, and desperate to avoid the obvious.

We could use part of, or all these objects... a pot, a mug, a woven basket, a mortar and pestle, and a penis gourd.

I think I missed the whole point of 'abstract' as this is hardly so, but the lessons I learned will be analysed at my leisure, and definitely enhance future work.

We were a merry, and slightly tattered little group (that's me on the floor - my favourite place)

Sunday, August 21, 2011

I'm back to my routine... almost. This week's Scrapiteria theme is 'Animal, Vegetable, Mineral' As I seem to be still influenced by Central Australia here goes.

Greed Is Not Good

I guess it's a comment on what the 'goldseekers' are doing to our landscape. Greedy pigs with their snouts in the trough, searching for the golden apple. Although an apple is not really a 'vegetable', in the sense of the brief it works for me.

Will we stop selling our country to overseas mining companies?... pigs might fly!

Am this weekend at an abstract workshop with Peter Griffen. Am having a ball AND taking photos. Will get to post them shortly.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Still very 'up' about our trip to outback Australia, and sorting the photos is keeping me so. One of the first things I photographed when we arrived in Alice Springs was outside the motel where we were staying.

Sturt's Desert Pea is famous for its distinctive blood-red leaf-like flowers, each with a bulbous black centre. It is one of Australia's best known wildflowers, native to the arid regions of central and north-western Australia. I love these flowers but they are difficult to grow.

It's sometimes difficult to juggle a camera while climbing enormous rocks, and traversing difficult terrain. We often struggled with the light as the contrast between the harsh sunlight and the shadows was enormous. However, the trials were insignificant when we reached our various destinations. Awe and amazement were the usual reactions.

Cycad Gorge

Palm Valley

It is such rugged and beautiful country that it is difficult to convey without professional cameras, but who needs to lug heavy equipment when climbing over all this.

This was a VERY tiny precis of our first day. We did sooooo much more.

There is a saying - "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride". Hope it's not true. I have a painting in the Queensland Regional Art Awards

When I saw my work on the site thought I was a finalist, but it seems that I am not, and that all of the paintings on the site are ALL the entrants. I'm in good company too, with some of my friends also there.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

G'day everyone in Blogland... I'm back. While I have an enormous number of images I'd like to share with you, I also have the washing, shopping, cooking, and arranging my next few weeks busy schedule to attend to. However I can't keep you waiting in suspense (at least I hope you are), so have quickly looked at our last day at Litchfield National Park, just outside of Darwin.

We spent much of the day cruising croc infested rivers...

... where these prehistoric creatures virtually littered the banks...

... and predatory birds, like this Whistling Kite, hunted for food.

When we'd had enough of that it was time for champagne and prawns, on top of a hill overlooking the amazing landscape, and watching this spectacular sunset.

I just loved the way the setting sun reflected on the grasses.

Will eventually get the many photos sorted and share some of the many highlights with you. Lots of painting inspiration for me!!!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Thanks to my computer savvy husband, I can actually share a small part of our adventure with you. Richard has his laptop and has managed to tear himself away from it so I can satisfy my blogging urges.

No wonder inland Australia is called the 'red' centre.

We have walked miles, and climbed enormous heights. I have taken sooooo many photos of red rocks, chasms, gorges, etc. that it will be difficult to choose, so will only give you a small sample until I get home.

Naturally the most important places we've visited must be included. Uluru (previously Ayers Rock) is a very sacred area to the local indigenous people. Climbing the rock is discouraged, but that doesn't stop the most intrepid, young, and fit tourists from giving it a go. Mostly they are foreign tourists, as Australians are a little more sensitive to the wishes of the local people.

Another important sacred site is Kata Tjuta (previously the Olgas).

Leaving one of my favourites 'til last.... this photo emphasises the absolutely amazing colours of the landscape.

Monday, August 1, 2011

It's true... I've become addicted to my blog. Here I am, packed and ready to go for my holiday, still finding more stuff to post. Just HAD to share with you some paintings by my favourite Australian artists that were inspired by the places I'm off to visit.

Erika Beck - Uluru Rockpool

Euan Macleod - Alice Landscape With Car

Guy Warren - Back Country

John Olsen - Artist's Camp

Yvonne Langshaw - Ross River Gorge

I love all these artists, and their works, and hope I'll be similarly inspired.